Sectional blade ink fountain for printing presses



`1an. 29, 1952 H, Wv FAEBER 2,583,640

SECTIONAL BLADE .INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 8, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 U@ gli Il; fw: V1 luy Ulli# U IIIIUN.

. HARRY WA FAEBER SES H. W. FAEBER Jan. 29, 1952 SECTIONAL BLADE INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRES Filed Feb. 8, 1949 U v mm W w mm LM E mw.. Y mi WL m m mi M -"J W u 1, T), /.l j 1 l NW i Patented Jan. 29, 1952 SECTIONAL BLADE INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Harry W. Faeber, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Time, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York y Application February 8, 1949, Serial No. 75,238 s claims. (c1. 14n-365) The present invention relates to a new and improved mechanism for controlling the metering or discharge of inks from printing press ink fountains, the invention covering more particularly the fountain blade structure and the manner in which its position is adjusted.

Great difficulty has always been experienced in effectively controlling the uniformity of the film of ink on the fountain cylinder of `printing presses, and an object of this invention is to p-rovide a new and improved adjusting mechanism for the blades of the fountain cylinders whereby careful control of ink delivery can be attained.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indicating means whereby itis possible to accurately reset the fountain blade to a desired position.

These objects, as well as others will appear from the following detailed description of a mechanism in which `the invention has been embodied, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing a device constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a View in longitudinal section of the fountain blades shown in Figure 1, taken on ,line 2--2 of Figure 1, and locking the direction of the arrows; and

`Figure 3 is a view in end elevation of the roller adjustment mechanism, taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention will be seen as embodied in an ink fountain I of conventional form, the fountain structure including a rear fountain wall II and bottom wall I2, a reinforcing web I3 being formed on the bottom wall to provide sufcient strength.

The fountain is completed by a fountain roller I4 which is mounted in a manner to be described and mounted for rotation in a suitable fashion, also in accordance with conventional practice.

In order that the film of ink carried from the fountain by the surface of the fountain roller may be suitably controlled, a plurality of blades I5 are provided upon the bottom wall I2. The blades I5 are formed with doctoring edges I 6, which by their position with respect yto the fountain roller I4, control the thickness of the ink carried by the fountain roll as it emerges from the fountain. It will be seen that the fountain is provided with a plurality of blades, as illustrated in Figure 1, these blades actually forming the bottom surface of the ink receptacle adjacent the fountain roller I4.

The positioning of the respective blades I5 is controlled by a mechanism presently to be `described, a cover plate IIbeing provided to cooperate with the plurality of blades I5 to form a continuous bottom surface carried by the bottom plate I2. The forward extremity of the cover plate I1 may be provided with a seal I8 in order that leakage of ink between the cover plate I'I and blades I5 may be prevented. In the underportion of the cover plate I1. a cavity `I9 is formed, this cavity terminating in an end wall 20 in which apertures 2| are formed to receive control rods 22, one rod being provided for each of the blades I5. The ends of the rods 22 are threaded into the adjacent ends of the blades I5 as illustrated at 23, and coil springs 24 are carried upon the rods 22, these springs being seated against the wall 20 and the ends of the respective blades I5 and serving to urge the blades I5 outwardly and to take up backlash that might exist in the threaded connection 23.

The outer extremities of the rods 22 are `provided with manually operative knobs 25 having dials 26 formed thereon to facilitate the adjustment and indexing of the respective fountain blades I5. The rods 22 are supported in an end plate 2'I, being anchored against axial movement by spring clips 28. It will be noted that the rear wall II is apertured at 29 in order that the rods 22 may extend therethrough as illustrated in Figure 2.

The cover plate I1 is secured in position by f means of bolts 30 thatare threaded at 3l into the cover plateand, at their other extremities, are provided with nuts 32 which bear against washers 33 against which springs 34 seat. The washers 33 are provided with cylindrical spring covers 35 that are received within recesses 36 formed in the underside of the fountain bottom plate I2. By means of this structure, the cover plate I1 may be clamped'securely in the position illustrated in Figure 2, the spring 34 serving to maintain it in this position yieldingly.

In order that the fountain roll I4 may be adjusted properly in relationship to the other rollers of the ink distribution system (not shown), the fountain roll I4 is shown as being provided with a shaft 31 that is journaled in a bearing 38 carried upon a plate 39 which is secured to extension 4I) of fountain body I2. Bolts 4I are provided for securing the plate 39 to extension 40 and this assembly is mounted upon side frame 442. Bolts 43 are provided to secure the extension 40 to the side frame 42, enlarged recesses 44 being formed in the extension 40 in order that the position of the entire fountain assembly with respect to the side frame 42 may be adjusted. The same adjustable mounting is provided on the opposite end of the fountain` assembly, where itl lrests Aonxthe o pposite side=frame,so as to allowiindependent adjustment of either end of the fountain roll and thus align it properly with the other rolls (not shown). Key 45 which is fastened `to .sideframe 42 is adapted to be received in groove 1516 giornied in the underside of fountain body extension 4E), thus permitting adjustment of the fountain iasn sembly in either direction, transverse to ythefaxis of shaft 3l. Adjustment of this position is controlled by means of a screw f4.6'that. is threaded into the extension 40 and the head 41 of which is formed with slot #la which receives aista'tionary fork arm 49 formed upon the frame .42. Turn- .ling :of-Ithe screw `'4t :infeith'er directionfthussmoves the fountain assembly in a corresponding 1directum, the screws :'43 being loosenedlto :permit `suchfrnoveinent and then vsecured .in :clamping position when thelproper adjustment fo'f 'the fountain assembly has :been effected.

#Rotationof ithe shaft 3.1 intermittently .may be .accomplished bylsuitable `mechanism indicated Suchumec'hanism -lis :of zconventional ty-pe `and forms :no vpart o'f this .invention and, therefore, 'neednot fbe described in .detail vherein. lIt :will Abe observed that theshaft llfis formed withlaheadplatel thatis adapted to -lbe 'received within =a 'recess 52, formed 'in the adjacent end ofthe 'fountai-nroll 11d'.- tBoltsf53 .may

be provided to secure .the head plate :to (the fend :of-the rloll, land this roll assembly .isreceived in fountain end walls 54 :in :accordance `.with standard lpractice, La lubricating connection 55 'being provided, as ilustrated in Figure 1l.

` 'While `the Ainvention lhas lbeen described :with specific :reference 'to the structure shown .in .the

Y accompanying drawingsI vit is :not to'be limited 'save :as defined in the appended-claims.

Iii-claim: Y Y 1."Inking mechanism forfprinting rpresses iconi- -prising an ink fountain :having fa bottom f-pjlate,

-end walls and-a rear'wall,1a"fountain roller '1ro- 'tatably amounted between the 'ends walls, ia

plurality fof fountain fblades mounted .upon the blades with respect to 'the fountain roller, -said laterally abutted blades; `cover plate, walls, and

roller forming an ink reservoir.

2; Inking `mechanism for printing presses #coniprising an ink fountain Yhaving 1a bottom pla-te, end'walls anda rear "Wall, 'a l'fountain roller rotatably mounted between theend wallsfaplurality'of fountain 'blades mounted upon v'the bottom plate and extending between the-end walls, ia 4cover Yplatevadapted to cooperate iwith Ethe blades, said cover plate beingseparate from 'thefbottom platei endand rear walls, and blades off-the 'ink' 'bottom plate and laterally abutted? to extendbe-V Y fountain, spring means for urging the cover plate downwardly against the blades, screw means to effect axial movement of each of the blades with respect to the fountain roller comprising a plurality of screws threaded one into each blade, and a plurality of springs one encircling each .screwand reacting between 'said' cover ,plate and each blade, `to urge the 'cover plate against the rear Wall ofthe fountain and4 to urge the blades forwardly in the direction of the roller to elimi- -nateback lashin the said screws.

' Z3. Irik mechanism for printing pressescomprising an ink fountain and roller assembly and kcarrier means'for said assembly whereby said roller-may^bernoved*transversely of its axis including a stationary supporting frame having a pair of spaced apart key ways running transversely to the axis of said roller, a pair of fountain extensions `-disposed one adjacent either extremity ofY the roller for carrying said fountain assembly and having fgrooves `formed therein lforreceiving the lrespective keyways Ain -a :slidable imounting, said Y fountain extensions leach having an enlarged recess and shoulders 'formed therein, screw :means received' insaid recess and abutting :said shoulders and threaded into the stationary support,

shoulder means lainxedto said stationaryifsupport,

and adjusting screw .means reacting.,betweenfsaid `supporting frame'andfountainextensions to move the fountain `'assembly in i either Jdirection :on` said -key ways.

Ll. Inking mechanism for printing :presses comprising 'an yink 'fountain having 'a bottom plate, fend walls anolfa rear wall, Za fountainroller `rotatably mounted ,between fthe end walls, -a V,plurality of l'fountain lblades vmountedf'upon 4the bottom plateV and extending between th'efend walls, screw means to adjust the blades-axially `Awith respect Eto the yfountain roller, and fa "cover 'plate extending between'the'end wallsitofholdrthe Ablades on the bottom *plate and engaging 2the 'Yupper surfaces of said blades to form an inkseal therewith, rst spring means urging vsaid -fc'over lplate against said blades `andfsecondV spring means reacting between each lbladeV Afand said cover plate, and `cooperating vwith the said A:screw meansfto eliminate back lash, Y

' :5; Sinking mechanism .forV printing lpresses comprising an ink fountain having a bottom plate, fend walls and afrear wall, a ioun't'ain roller rotatablymounted between the endf'walls. la `plurality of fountainlblades mounted -upen the bottom plate and extending between thevend -walls, means to adjust the blades axially with respect tofthe L"foui'itain roller, a coverf plate 'adapted' to--'co"op'erate 'with 'the blades, adjusting ymeans for positioning each ofthe blades inde- Ypendently withfrespec't' to thefountainfand means forV lattaching'fthecover =pla`te to ithe-founta`in comprising a screw threaded into the coveripleite and-extending -through the bottom plate, taholl'owfcoremerriber having y la :supporting-plate secured thereon adapted-'to Ireceive andlretainithe screw, -a :springzeneircling 'the *screw and posi-- tionedby said rsupporting'-p'late l-to lprovide tension lbetween fthefbottom plate and jthe supporting V:plate and to urgeithefcoverplatefonlthebladesf '6. riking rnechariismfor"printing `presseslcen'iprising lan-ink jfountainhaving a Ebottom iplate, end-walls and -a rear Iwall'; a fountain roller ifo'- --tatably mounted Ebetween -th'eend 'wails -a-'plural- 'ity-'of ifountainblades 'mounted on thebottom pl'ate -andflateraliy abutted to J'extend between the ,'endizwalls `:and :spaced y.from tthelrear lwall, ia

coverfplate extending:laterally:betweensaidetend walls having a forward portion overlying said blades, a trailing edge adjacent said rear wall and a transverse depending flange carried thereby adjacent the trailing edge tol rest upon said bottom plate, said flange having apertures formed therein aligned with said blades; means to effect axial movement of each blade with respect to the fountain roller comprising a plurality of screws threaded one into each of the blades, each of said screws passing through an aperture in said ange and reacting against said rear wall, and a spring encircling each screw reacting between the corresponding blade and the flange on said cover plate; means for securing said cover plate to said bottom plate comprising at least one screw threaded into the cover plate and extending through the bottom plate, a nut threaded on said screw, and a spring encircling the screw reacting between the nut and the 6 bottom plate to urge the cover plate against the blades; and means forming a liquid seal between the cover plate and the blades between said end walls, said walls, roller, cover plate and laterally abutted blades forming an ink fountain for retaining printing inkl HARRY W. FAEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,526 Jaeck Aug. 2, 1887 1,275,348 Wood Aug. 13, 1918 1,720,194 Zahn July 9, 1929 1,778,476 Wood Oct. 14, 1930 2,206,712 Babson July 2, 19.40 

